Falcons CB Jalen Collins saying all the right things about playing time

Falcons CB Jalen Collins saying all the right things about playing time

Jalen Collins was arguably the best cornerback for the Atlanta Falcons down the stretch of the 2016 season and during their playoff run. Through a week of training camp though his snaps have been cut back significantly and at times Collins has even run with the third-stringers.

To his credit, Collins is saying all the right things about his playing time.

They are trying to get everybody some reps. . . it’s just a coaches’ decision. . . He’s trying to get the younger guys ready. It’s a situation that I’ve kind of dealt with before. I don’t have to practice with the first team all the time. I just have to get everybody else ready and make sure I get the mental reps. Try to help the team the best I can.

A second-round pick from 2015, Collins is projected to be Atlanta’s fourth corner this year behind Desmond Trufant, Robert Alford and Brian Poole.

Entering the third year of his rookie contract, Collins is set to earn less than a million dollars in base salary this year, per Over the Cap. That might just make him the most valuable backup corner in the NFL today.